by Danielle Finley, Associate Director of Political Engagement
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines. In this Issue: In this Issue: 1. Bipartisan Housing Bill Passes House of Representatives 2. NAR applauds Congress’ ‘bold action’ on housing 3. State lawmakers want to lift local caps on housing grants for government employees 4. Casino Bill Update Would Require Convention Center In Fairfax County 5. Virginia House passes slate of renter protections.
Bipartisan Housing Bill Passes House of Representatives
By MICHAEL RAUBER, NAR REALTOR® News
The Housing for the 21st Century Act aims to make a significant dent in the nation’s housing shortage through a comprehensive approach that addresses barriers at all levels of government. The Housing for the 21st Century Act, a bipartisan housing package aimed at boosting supply and improving affordability, passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 390–9. With House approval secured, the legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
NAR applauds Congress’ ‘bold action’ on housing
By MEGHAN ROOS, Real Estate News
The U.S. House of Representatives has advanced a bipartisan housing package in a move that was quickly applauded by housing advocates. Elsewhere in Washington, D.C., the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has repealed a fair lending rule first implemented during the Biden administration, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is set to release new jobs and inflation data this week — reports that could influence the Federal Reserve ahead of its next meeting.
State lawmakers want to lift local caps on housing grants for government employees
By CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS, Virginia Mercury
Bills to eliminate the cap on local housing grants to help government employees live in the communities they serve have been advancing in Virginia’s Senate and House of Delegates — but not without debate. Current law, first implemented about two decades ago, allows up to $25,000 in grants to help government workers put down payments on purchasing homes. By removing the cap, Sen. Russett Perry, D-Loudoun and Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, said their bills can help workers in areas with very high housing costs. The average price of homes in Loudoun are around $780,000 while homes in Prince William are priced around $574,000, according to Zillow.
Casino Bill Update Would Require Convention Center In Fairfax County
By MICHAEL O’CONNELL, Patch.com
Legislation that would pave the way for a casino to be built in Fairfax County was amended by state lawmakers Thursday to add a requirement that any casino proposal must include a convention center as part of the development. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations recommended Senate Bill 756 to the full Senate for consideration with a substitute motion that removed Tysons as the location for any proposed casino development. Versions of the casino bill in previous years had restricted the casino to the Tysons area, specifying a gaming facility could be built along Metro’s Silver Line outside I-495 in Fairfax County. During its regular midday session on Thursday, the Senate rejected the committee’s substitute motion and then approved a new substitute introduced by Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon), the bill’s sponsor.
Virginia House passes slate of renter protections
By KATE SELTZER, Virginian-Pilot
The House of Delegates passed a slate of renter protections this week that Democrats say will help prevent evictions. Here’s what the amendments to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act would do if they are passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. One bill, proposed by Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, changes the requirement that military personnel who need to move suddenly give landlords 60 days notice. The bill would make it so that members of the military who deploy or permanently change stations give 30 days notice instead.